Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
April 1, 2016

Fire officers stationed at Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) will have to comply with security measures there.

Barbados TODAY understands that this was the agreement coming out of a three-hour emergency meeting this afternoon between top officials of the Barbados Fire Service and GAIA management.

The talks followed protest action this morning by fire officers, which resulted in a brief closure of the airport and several flight delays.

The officers who were on stand-by for aircraft refuelling reported sick after they refused to adhere to a demand by security officers for them to be body scanned.

Several passengers complained to Barbados TODAY that the action had affected their travel plans.

Acting Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard, who attended this afternoon’s meeting, could not be reached for comment. However, President of the Fire Officers’ Association Grantley Greene told Barbados TODAY that the meeting was cordial and it ended with an understanding that persons working at the airport must undergo security checks.

“Everybody that working at the airport will be searched. There are a couple exemptions that are not on a wide base,” Greene said.

When contacted, GAIA’s Communications Officer Keith Goddard said the matter was a misunderstanding that had been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. (AH)